And Biden's VP is ... 🥁
Kamala Harris is Joe Biden's vice-presidential running mate. The 2020 college football season is all but canceled. And Russia's Putin a coronavirus vaccine to the test.
It's Ashley with the news we've all been waiting for.
But first, a (shooting) star is born: The Perseid meteor shower, considered by stargazers to be the best of the summer, is set to peak this week. 💫
The Short List newsletter is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe here!
Sen. Kamala Harris is Joe Biden's vice-presidential pick
It's official: Joe Biden's VP pick is California Sen. Kamala Harris, the first Black woman and the first Asian American on a major party's presidential ticket. Harris, who ended her own presidential bid in December, has been a senator since 2017 and, before that, was California’s first female attorney general. "I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked @KamalaHarris — a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants — as my running mate," Biden tweeted. Harris brings the political prowess of winning statewide election in the largest state while also personifying the diversity that key Democratic activists have said is crucial to building grassroots enthusiasm for the ticket.
Kamala Harris: COVID-stricken USA is desperate for a strong leader. Instead we have Trump.
Public defender: I worked with Kamala Harris. She was the most progressive DA in California.
Russian a vaccine to market
Russia has claimed victory in the race for a coronavirus vaccine. After becoming the first country to officially register a COVID-19 vaccine, Russia declared it ready for use Tuesday, despite less than two months of human testing and not completing final trials. In a show of confidence, President Vladimir Putin even said that his daughter is among those who have received the vaccine, which he said offers lasting immunity from the coronavirus. However, scientists have been sounding the alarm that the rush to start using the vaccine before Phase 3 trials – which normally last for months and involve thousands of people – could backfire. Trump administration officials, too, were skeptical of Russia’s news.
More important COVID-19 developments:
Back to school: Just over one week since the school year started, more than 826 students and 42 staff from one Georgia school district have been asked to quarantine — after several tested positive for COVID-19.
Youth COVID-19 cases almost doubled in four weeks: Children represent less than 10% of all confirmed U.S. COVID-19 cases, but the total number of youth cases has almost doubled in the past month, a new report says. The good news: The data indicates that COVID-19-associated hospitalization and death is uncommon in children.
Teens, young adults more at risk for COVID-19 if they vape: A new study has found that teens and young adults who vape are five times more likely to become infected with COVID-19, providing more evidence of the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes. Those who both vaped and traditionally smoked were nearly seven times more likely to become infected.
What everyone’s talking about
Now that Big Ten won't play football in the fall, will other Power Five conferences follow?
After announcing a COVID-19 diagnosis, Alyssa Milano says the virus is making her lose hair.
She's 107 and badass as ever: This New Jersey woman beat the Spanish flu, and now she beat COVID-19.
Are mask-exemption letters legitimate? A Florida man says yes, and has one to prove it.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan say they did not cooperate in the book about them, "Finding Freedom." But it sure reads as if they did.
Bad news, college football fans
The Pac-12 has decided to not play its football season this fall over concerns that the sport carries too much risk for athletes, the conference said Tuesday, joining the Big Ten as the second member of the Power Five to elect not to play due to the coronavirus pandemic. Combined, the announcement by the two leagues less than two hours apart foreshadow a series of similar moves that may eventually lead to the cancellation of the entire Bowl Subdivision season. “It became abundantly clear that there was too much uncertainty regarding potential medical risks to allow our student-athletes to compete this fall,” Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren said. The Big Ten and Pac-12's decisions also impacts other fall sports, including volleyball women's soccer.
Deadly derecho leaves a path of destruction
A derecho – a dangerous, “inland hurricane” – lashed 700 miles across the Midwest on Monday, flipping cars, downing trees, causing widespread property damage and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands. The derecho lasted several hours, traveling through Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. In Fort Wayne, Indiana, a woman died at a hospital after firefighters pulled her from debris inside her mobile home after high winds rolled it onto its side Monday night. As of Tuesday morning, more than 1 million customers were without power, mostly in Illinois and Iowa. Derechoes are often referred to as inland hurricanes due to their hurricanelike conditions, in terms of ferocious wind and torrential rain.
Real quick
Seattle's first Black police chief is stepping down following a vote to cut $4 million in budget and reduce the department by 100 officers.
The parents of Elijah McClain are suing Colorado police over his death.
A Chicago man was charged with attempted murder in a shooting that police say sparked looting.
A Maryland man shot by Secret Service near the White House was charged with assault on a police officer.
It's now a felony in Illinois to assault a retail worker who is enforcing face mask rules.
Bindi Irwin and husband Chandler Powell are expecting their first child. Steve would be so proud.
Time for some some whale-y wholesome animal content
For almost 10 years, "Little Grey" and "Little White" haven't dipped their flippers into the sea. Until now. After traveling 6,000 miles from an aquarium in China, the two beluga whales have been moved to the world's first open-water whale sanctuary for belugas in Iceland. Little Grey and Little White, about 12 years old, haven't lived in an ocean environment since 2011, when they were taken from a Russian whale research center. The new Icelandic sanctuary may be their home for years to come. 💙
A break from the news
The 8 best places to shop for back-to-school supplies online.
Watch Dua Lipa hilariously interview elderly people who have no idea who she is.
Beware of COVID-related emails being used to trick people into giving out personal information.
This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for The Short List newsletter here.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Russia COVID-19 vaccine, Trump: Tuesday’s news.
